Gamesmanship... Now, regardless how hard McCain, or his surrogates, hit Obama, Obama is obligated to congratulate McCain next week upon his nomination. This is just gamesmanship and it allows McCain to steal a little of Obama's attention tonight.

Obama is not obligated to do so.  McCain has Brit Hume to bash the celebratory moment after Michelle Obama's speech the very moment it is happening, calling it "staged" and "hokie."  He used the term "staged" at least twice.  During the celbratory moment after Obama's accteptance speech, McCain has Hume to make sure he calls him "Barack Hussein Obama heard here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFoLcqmRFdM

That's right. He couldn't contain himself.

Also, not one person noticed that in the "nice" McCain ad, McCain went out of his way to reference Obama's ethnicity, by making sure he mentioned how great it all was coming on the anniversary of King's speech.

That was gratuitous and unnecessary, and it was deliberate. Why did he say this?

Possibly, but I think most of the people who listened to Obama's speech and then saw the McCain ad will regard it a nothing more than a sham.  Cheap windowdressing.  Obama had plenty of good things to say about McCain in his speech, and managed to skewer him anyway.  It will take a lot more than one ad from McCain to change the tone of HIS campaign, and to put anything of value in his message. 

One wonders, what is McCain's candidacy and campaign about? Attack Obama, congratulate Obama, attack Obama, long enough  that on election day, enough gullible voters will fall for his tricks and elect him?

Media talks about voters not knowing Obama. Does any voter know McCain (other than that he was a POW and stalks Obama)?

It's entertaining to watch him make a fool of himself everyday, if there was not the possibility of him being elected.  

What does McCain stand for?  

Stands for Bush !

Bush/McCain:

"THEY were standing under a tree, each with an arm round the other's neck, and Alice knew which was which in a moment, because one of them had "DUM" embroidered on his collar, and the other "DEE". `I suppose they've each got "TWEEDLE" round at the back of the collar,' she said to herself.

They stood so still that she quite forgot they were alive, and she was just going round to see if the word "TWEEDLE" was written at the back of each collar, when she was startled by a voice coming from the one marked "DUM"."

 

But Tweedledee and Tweedledum agreed to have a battle, remember?  Contrariwise!

Right you are!  I can't figure out which one is Bush, and which one McCain:

`I know what you're thinking about,' said Tweedledum; `but it isn't so, nohow.'

`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'

Frankly, while some call it genetic, I think this kind of book is why little girls grow up to be women with whom men could never have a reasonable discussion...

(DUCK!)

Now Argon, plenty of little tots of both gender read this book and enjoy the whimsy, then read it as adults to enjoy the sarcasm and adult humor, and wise quacks.

 

 Does any voter know McCain (other than that he was a POW and stalks Obama)?

I don't know too much about him, and I've actively tried to find out what he's about (aside from a GOP toady) today. His history is no indicator, it changes so often.

That's the tired theme of the media with regards to Obama, though. He's a "mystery" and a "puzzle". I find him pretty straightforward, but then , I don't react to words like "Islamofascist" and "fetus' as emotionally as some of my fellow Americans do. I'm sort of a dope, but am able to focus on slightly more subtle ideas.

I took the advice of other posters here and watched most of Obama's speech on CSpan tonight.I couldn't resist flipping over to Fox for the post-game though. Most of the righty pundits had their analysis written weeks ago, I'm sure. Nothing to see here, same old liberal speech.The specific comments seemed to be about an entirely different speech than I heard.

Brit Hume, Fred Barnes, SpokesNegro Juan Williams all seemed to be commenting on something they didn't want to understand.

Hume, especially, reminded me of that kid in school who enjoyed action movies and the A Team, and had to give an oral book report on a good book in front of the class.A couple of mentions of concrete details, some confusion about the meaning of it, basically "it seemed pretty good, I didn't really understand some of it." 

BTW, anybody know what's going on with Charles Krauthammer? At first, I thought he was drunk, he was slightly more comatose and disjointed in his thoughts than usual, but then I noticed weird bruises or discoloration on his face. I don't mean to make light of it if he's sick, or dying, but he had no business being paid to comment on anything tonight.

ps - for any of you following the Republican word of the day calendar as happily as I am, the page has turned.

"Programmatic" is the new "hubris". Expect to see wingnut posts peppered with the word tomorrow as if it were a perfectly cromulent word that they'd been using all of their lives.

"SpokesNegro Juan Williams "

Fox goes to great pains to make sure all points of view are represented: Liberals, blacks, short people, hispanics... Now, if only they could talk him into getting that sex-change operation and changing his name to Juanita, they'd have all the bases covered with only one paycheck!

************************ UPDATE ****************************

From Fox news this morning: (received in half-awake state, with first cup of coffee-- details may be sketchy)

ITEM: North Craolina (or South) Governor(?) Somebody Sandburg (or some name like that) reports that claims that John McCain is "milking" his POW experience are "crazy". Asserts that you have to "pull it out of him", and "He doesn't like to talk about it".

ITEM: Fox "News" reports that Dems "breathe a sigh of relief" today. There were concerns that John Mccain was going to " steal some of the thunder" by announcing his VP pick in ad during Obama speech. Earthlings respond that nobody cares. McCain could have reported that he was born a woman and nobody would have cared.   

Mark Sanford. Governor South Carolina. And I'm sure that assertion went unchallenged. Gotta love Fox. It's like a little window into a parallel universe.

Sarah Palin

And may I be first to coint the phrase "Wing-Nutter Center"?

Thank you.

There ya go again...

Lousy choice for John. Good choice for us. He can hang it up now...

Obviously, he's going for the far-right with this choice. If he thinks he will get hordes of Hillary supporters as a result he's in for a huge shock.

Plus, she's MILF'y cute!  Her, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden... AND Miss Buffalo Chip '08?  This will be the BEST CAMPAIGN EVER!

(I'm not really feeling extra misogynistic today, it just seems like there's some sort of unfortunate confluence of circumstances.  Sorry.)

Hmm, what do we know about her?

She's only been gov for a year and a half, which means she has even less experience than opponents accuse Obama of having.

In her year and a half she already managed to get an ethics investigation against her because she demanded her brother in law be fired once he divorced her sister. Carries a grudge like an elephant, check.

Hates abortion soo much she'd kill an abortion provider. Check.

Has ties to the other ethics induced senator from AK, headed down the low road. Check.

She admits that she used marijuana when it was legal in Alaska, but says that she did not like it.[9] (HUGE alarm bell there! Who would smoke it and say they hated it?)

Her politics make her uglier than sin. Sorry. I'll take Michelle or Jill over this one any day.

Runner up Sarah Palin (L) congratulates Miss Buffalo Chip '08 winner Cindy McCain(R).

Seems his choice shook up a few republicans. Kay Bailey Hutchinsen pretty much said "Sarah WHO?"

Pssst.  Haven't you heard? They are not running for office. ;-)

 

"McCain could have reported that he was born a woman and nobody would have cared."

Or been surprised. He flip-flops on everything else.

Col, heard one of our local yakkers this morning on the car radio asserting the same thing, saying he was shocked, SHOCKED, that former president Carter had the gall, the cajones, the huge testosterone-engorged stainless steel gravitational orbit-changing Gigantor balls to suggest that former POW McCain was milking his former POW status for campaign purposes.  He had never heard the former POW McCain ever refer to his status as a former POW in any context outside his experience as a POW, and even if he had, they were still way more applicable to being president than SOMEones experience being black, that SOMEone constantly bringing up race as a reason he should be president and....

*pant pant pant....

I think the Dems convention shook up a few righties this week.  Expect lots more unhinged diatribes.

It's amazing, AS. The self-hypnosis that the rightys are executing on themselves has me a bit concerned.It's as if they're subconsciously getting themselves as detached from reality as possible before Election Day.

I wish I was that sure that the GOP was headed for the outcome they deserve. I still think the Ignorant-American voters are going to turn out for Grampy in numbers big enough to make it close.

Gov Sanford said that John McCain didn't bring it up in casual conversations, and only talked about it if asked.

But campaigns are not casual conversations, and McCain doesn't only talk about it if asked. It's is stock answer. As others have said, noun, verb, POW.

And this happened after Mr Biden's speech last night when mentioning McCain. File it nder " Cordialism " . Or even " speaking with the enemy "

Reminds me of the snake in "The Jungle Book" with his hypnotic eyes.

Yeah, stupid John McCain spreading his venom.  Barack doesn't do negative ads.  Barack is Jesus.  He believes in the Golden Rule. 

Get over it!  Barack did the same thing in his speech tonight.  Praise McCain then throw him under the bus.

CHANGE!

"Get over it!  Barack did the same thing in his speech tonight.  Praise McCain then throw him under the bus." - GlennJerico

Wooweee, Glenn, it's getting pretty crowded under that old bus.  I hope while he is there, McCain doesn't make any moves on Obama's grandmother!

But, the point is my friend, is that Obama attacked McCain's policy positions. NOT the man as McCain has been doing. I believe that you fail to see the difference.

MSNBC airs "pretty smart" McCain ad congratulating Obama without noting attacks on the same day

Playing devils advocate here......... in all fairness.... and I hate to say this.... but if the report that MSNBC reported on was about the fake praises of Grampy McSame had for Obama.... the attacks wouldn't need to be mentioned within the same report? Would they? I'm not iron clad on this thought.... am I wrong? (It's ok if I am.)

Mind you, the contrast would have made a difference.... and yes MSNBC should have done perhaps at the least... a seperate report about the McSame attacks on Obama would be warranted..... or am I reading this wrong?

This is probably dangerous for me to say, especially since I just got off probabtion here at MMfA, but I'm with you - or at least with the devil for whose position you're advocating - and MathProf (below).  We need a good Tommy "WITH" here.

I think it's just being magnanimous to draw distinction between a congatulations video and an attack ad and acknowledge decent behavior, whether the congrats are sincere or not.  I don't see any reason to qualify it by referring to a separate (and in all honesty, EXPECTED) attack ad.

This is not accurate. After the comment was made about the McCain ad, Rachel Maddow on MSNBC noted that "of course, he was not pulling any of the negative ads in other markets."

Obambi has turned into O'Bomber.

This remark has nothing to do with reality and reflects on you, not Obama.

It was a classy ad, not at all surprising coming from the republican candidate.  What's surprising is that it aired on one of Obama's personal media outlets. It must have slipped by Olbermann, Matthews and the rest of the Obamaniacs.

On another note, it will be significant whether or not Obama receives a bounce in the polls after this convention.  As usual, it really was a terrific speech, more explicit than usual yet still broadly put.  However, to my surprise, the polls are still so close.  Before this week, people clearly were still unsure as to his "readiness" to be pres.  If he fails to receive a decent bounce out of this, that uncertainty still remains.

 

He's already gotten a slight bounce, but I'm sure McGrampy will get one, too. The only reason this is even close is due to the Media Octopus that the Republicans have built over the past 20 years. The same Karl Rove Slime Machine that saddled us with President Numbnuts is on course to usher in another Puppet President for the Corporate Oligarchs. I don't think it really matters who gets the Republican nomination.... they can prop up a sack of potatoes and their drooling Evangelical hordes will slavishly vote for it.

"It was a classy ad, not at all surprising coming from the republican candidate.  What's surprising is that it aired on one of Obama's personal media outlets. It must have slipped by Olbermann, Matthews and the rest of the Obamaniacs.

On another note, it will be significant whether or not Obama receives a bounce in the polls after this convention.  As usual, it really was a terrific speech, more explicit than usual yet still broadly put.  However, to my surprise, the polls are still so close.  Before this week, people clearly were still unsure as to his "readiness" to be pres.  If he fails to receive a decent bounce out of this, that uncertainty still remains."

Why do you say it's not surpising coming from McCain? Just take a look at the long list of negative ads that he's put up since Obama became the nominee for president, and actually it surpises me that he made a classy ad (it was classy and nice, and as pointed out, he still released yet another negative attack ad with no substance on the same day). And I wasn't aware really that MSNBC was the personal Obama station. Again, go through the archives here, and take a look at conservative misinformation that goes through that network, Matthews is a prime example. And no, it doesn't matter that he once worked for a democrat.

Obama of course will receive a post convention bounce, because that is normally what happens. He received a bounce when he sewed up the nomination, he'll get one now. Same as McCain when the RNC gavels to a close next week. He'll probably see a bounce as well. The polling, I think, especially this year, is mis-leading. There is no way in the world that McCain and Obama are theoretically tied, even though the numbers say so. What makes me say this? The mere fact that polling companies do not poll people with cell phones, only land lines. Why is this significant? I honestly don't know too many people under the age of say, about 50, who even have a traditional land line telephone any longer. Almost everyone within my circle of friends do not have land lines. In my extended circle of friends, nobody has one either. It numbers about, say, 70 or 80 people that I know, and I know don't have land lines in their homes. The same will hold true, almost in a higher rate no doubt, for those in the say, 18-25 age range, and also, probably a big block of voters for Obama. I think the polling numbers are wrong this time around, and I think the Obama win is going to be huge, and people are going to be scratching their heads wondering about the polling numbers and how they were wrong. Cell phones. That's all I have to say about that.

There's no question in my mind that the cast at msnbc is in the tank for Obama. . . . The little nitpicky gotcha games played by mmfa come nowhere close to discounting the overwhelming love affair, displayed every night, between the msnbc commentators and the Obamas.

Your point about the cell phone and polling makes sense. I don't have a land line and neither does most of my circle of friends, and likely all of my friends in the age range of 25-35. About half of these individuals, however, are not Obama supporters, although its likely that this demographic by and large is in favor of Obama.

Moreover, I remember hearing the same bit in the last election, in favor of Kerry. Although the lack of land lines likely excludes many would-be Obamaniacs, I honestly don't know how decidedly this cell phone discrepancy skewers the polls. I'd be surprised if Obama does not carry the day, but I'd also be surprised if this election isnt' very close.  In the closing weeks, I think many people, uneasy about Obama's lack of experience, are going to grudgingly cast their lot with the Maverick   

 

The polls are simply manufactured news. Who cares who is in the lead at this point or whether Obama obounces?

It is simply silly. The only poll that means anything is the on on election day.

Media people use polls as if they were news. They are not. They are reactions to the news. You might as well be discussing what the weather will be like on  November 4th by what the weather was like today.

As for polls, I get calls quite regularly, (being in a battleground state of Ohio,) and I don't answer them. I think a lot of people feel the same... (I'd cite a poll but I don't have one.)  Why do you think the exit polls are many times wrong?  

I think it is too bad politicians make decisions based on these types of polls. I want a politician who stands up for what they believe in, not what the latest tracking poll said. 

Are people voting based on what polls say anyway?  

Polls are simply mindless filler for news organizations. 

on on = one on 

Yeah, I'm sure lots of people either don't respond or lie to the polls. My devillish mother and grandmother think they're clever telling pollsters the opposite of their intentions. And you're right, insofar as the polls reflect the conventional wisdom of pundits and media heads, its a safe bet that, more likely than not, they won't be entirely accurate.

Nonetheless, one would still think that by this point the polls would be pointing demonstrably toward Obama, being that repubs are not popular this time around, Maverick is not popular among conservatives, Obama is very popular among dems and others, and the media coverage (save for Fair and Balanced) is tanking for the latter.  I'm curious to see what will happen if Maverick picks the woman from Alaska as VP.  Wise move or no?

Over all, if Palin is his choice it is wise move.  Wisest move? No.

I'm not so sure this was a good pick.  She'll likely get torn apart in the debates with Biden. Looks like Maverick simply wanted a woman VP, to further demonstrate that the republican party isn't rife with the sexism that encumbers many factions of the democratic party, as poignantly revealed during the primaries in terms of the manner in which HC was treated

I don't know enough about Palin to handicap the Veep debate.  Old Joe spouts so much nonsense so often, I think in a debate he might have a difficult time when his oratorical excess is repudiated with facts from a telegenic woman.

My guess is she will serve her purpose when she will brings over the dissafected Hillary supporters. 

But McCain tossed away the "not ready for prime time" argument if he selects her. It must be he's calculated that argument was not a winner. I'm thinking he can still associate Obama with the radical left.

"... brings over the dissafected Hillary supporters. "

Palin is strongly pro-life. How well do you think that will play?

It's a trade off however I think the voters that Palin will draw are the ones who honestly feel that the good-ol-person network of men in the Democratic Party repudiated a woman to get a man. 

I've talked with some and the betrayal they feel by not selecting Hillary as Veep has them incensed.

Now, maybe Obama and Hillary's schmoozefest softened the rift. That remains to be seen.

My guess is that the pro-abortion views of the dissafected Hillary supporters will be sublimated to the gender issue. At least that is what McCain is hoping. He also is picking up independents who might like a woman on the ticket, even if she is pro-life.

 

Yes, but offsetting that is the loss of the lumberjack faction of the Republican party who were hoping McCain would pick Michael Palin.  McCain's attempt to appease them is being viewed as pure pandering.

Apparently, she's the subject of an ongoing investigation...

Commissioner dismissal

On July 11, 2008, Governor Palin dismissed Walter Monegan as Commissioner of Public Safety and instead offered him a position as executive director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which he subsequently turned down.[45][46] Monegan alleged shortly after his dismissal that it may have been partly due to his reluctance to fire an Alaska State Trooper, Mike Wooten, who had been involved in a divorce and child custody battle with Palin's sister, Molly McCann.[47] In 2006, before Palin was governor, Wooten was briefly suspended for ten days for threatening to kill McCann's (and Palin's) father, tasering his 11-year-old stepson (at the stepson's request), and violating game laws. After a union protest, the suspension was reduced to five days.[48]

Governor Palin asserts that her dismissal of Monegan was unrelated to the fact that he had not fired Wooten, and asserts that Monegan was instead dismissed for not adequately filling state trooper vacancies, and because he "did not turn out to be a team player on budgeting issues."[49] Palin acknowledges that a member of her administration, Frank Bailey, did contact the Department of Public Safety regarding Wooten, but both Palin and Bailey say that happened without her knowledge and was unrelated to her dismissal of Monegan.[49] Bailey was put on leave for two months for acting outside the scope of his authority as the Director of Boards and Commissions.

In response to Palin's statement that she had nothing to hide, in August 2008 the Alaska Legislature hired Steve Branchflower to investigate Palin and her staff for possible abuse of power surrounding the dismissal, though lawmakers acknowledge that "Monegan and other commissioners serve at will, meaning they can be fired by Palin at any time."[50] The investigation is being overseen by Democratic State Senator Hollis French, who says that the Palin administration has been cooperating and thus subpoenas are unnecessary.[51] The Palin administration itself was the first to release an audiotape of Bailey making inquiries about the status of the Wooten investigation.[49][52]

Wooten and the police union alleged that the governor had improperly released his employment files in his divorce case. However, McCann's attorney released a signed waiver from Wooten demonstrating that Wooten had authorized the release of his files through normal discovery procedures.[53][54]

Palin is weak times two.

She's only been governor for a couple of years. Before that she was a mayor. She's well-liked in Alaska. So what? How many electors does Alaska have, and they would vote Republican no matter who the nominee was. She's so anti-abortion that she doesn't practice birth control and her fifth child was born with Down's syndrome when she was 44. Top that off with the fact that she likely used political pressure on a State Commissioner who she later fired in an attempt to fire a Alaska State Trooper because he divorced Palin's sister.

It's purely politcal pandering. Compare that to Obama picking someone he can get along with and who has great credentials. McCain picked a woman because she was a woman. That's wrong, but so like what so many righties do and say. How often do righties say 'well, Clarence Thomas is black, or Condi Rice is black', as though that gives them a free pass? Picking a woman just to give you credibility with women is not okay. Palin is so inexperienced that she can't have been chosen based upon her ability to succeed John McCain if necessary.

Anyone can die at any time, but McCain is more likely to die sooner than Obama, and Palin just doesn't have the time in the position to say that she'd handle it well. Barack has much more of a track record to look at, and Biden is overflowing with experience and will be an aide to Obama.

McCain is desperate. Period. End of story.

This was probably the WORST pick. He simply blew it.

BB,

If you want to compare track records, Obama has two steps out of the gate and Palin one whereas McCain and Biden have been around the track a time or two.

Neither Palin or Obama have much experience.  As for me, not knowing much about Palin but knowing that Obama is the most inexperienced candidate ever, I'd rather have the inexperience at the #2 slot than the #1.

Neither Palin or Obama have much experience.  As for me, not knowing much about Palin but knowing that Obama is the most inexperienced candidate ever, I'd rather have the inexperience at the #2 slot than the #1.

Good point AA. All things being equal it's far better to have the VP lacking in experience, rather than the C in C.  It's astonishing that Obama has made it this far, with so many dems disregarding his total lack of experience to carry him through the primaries over other candidates who were so profoundly more qualified, such as HC and Biden. It's clear that he's more or less the "feel good" candidate, adored primarily by the youth and aging hippies. Of course he's a very intelligent and capable individual, but that notwithstanding, and as Biden says, the presidency is not the kind of job that readies itself to on the job training.  Maverick brings lots of experience and history of bipartisanship to the table, while Obama brings barely a scintilla.

I don't know who Maverick should've chosen for VP.  Romney's so awkward that I don't think he'd necessarily work out any better than Palin.  Although she might be window-dressing, at least with Palin there's an opportunity to make significant inroads with women voters . . .

 

"All things being equal it's far better to have the VP lacking in experience, rather than the C in C."

That is DUMB, especially in this case. Think that lack of experience in the Number Two slot is gonna work when Number Two becomes Number One because Number One DIES while in office??? Why have a backup who has MUCH less experience?

Why have a number One with no experience?  Palin's not the most preferable VP pick, but among the alternatives, I'm not sure that Maverick could've done much better.  As mentioned, I think Romney's a stuffed shirt.

You're right.  The prez needs experience.  Experience is the one thing that can get the prez through the tough issues he's going to face.  And there's only one guy with the years of executive experience - nearly 8 years of it - to face those tough issues:  George W Bush.

Time to park the Experience Express.  You "experience" guys have shown your judgement skills with our current "experienced" prez.  You don't show that you've learned much.

AR,

I see you're jettisoning the "no experience" argument. It only highlights one of the many weaknesses of Obama.

Palin actually has executive experience as Mayor and Governor. Obama has none.

I watched her at lunch at her roll out. She looked very confident and very smart.

She has five children, the oldest set to deploy in Iraq. 

Her husband works in the oil fields of the North Slope. 

She called herself a "hockey" mom. 

She's going to win over a lot of people based on her story and personality.

I doubt it.

You're counting her time as mayor of a town of 5000 people as "executive" experience? Seriously? And less than 2 years of a state with 670,000 people? In that case, if she has so much "executive" experience, maybe McCain ought to bump her to President because last time I checked, he's got 0 executive experience.

Don't you see. This is another flip flop by McCain. Obama doesn't have enough experience, but this woman does? Ridiculous.

Pay attention, Barney, while I drag this out...

Bush has experience. You want him to stay in office?  Or would you be happier if somebody, ANYbody, even with less experience, took over?

And this is not a partisan issue.  The lefties that are harping on this experience thing are being just as reactionary as you.

 

No. She's only gonna win over hard far-righties, submissive women who have no problem throwing away their pro-choice rights, and young basement-dweller men who think she's 'hot'. To the point... she's just gonna win the fringe and loser vote.

John McCain just sold out what little he had left of his so-called 'maverick' shtick. He went hard right with this one. This pick has Karl Rove's grubby pawprints all over it.

Anita Bryant redux...

To which factions of the Democraic party are you referring?

You do mean the manner in which right wing commentators and pundits attacked Hillary for her feminimity correct?

We'll have to see if Palin sheds a tear over how hard it is for a woman on the campaign trail. 

Even if it was contrived moment by Hillary, it worked and started her on her almost comeback.

I don't think those on the right object to a candidate because she is a woman or is feminine. It was simply that Hillary used it as a crutch.

Not really. Biden will tear her limb from limb when they go against each other in the debates. And he just veered his campaign way away from the "maverick" style that he'd like to be portrayed in, and went straight to hard core right wing world. He's not going to win too many independent voters, and or Hillary supporters with his pick for VP, that's my take on it, and plus it totally destroys his whole "we need experience" schtick that he's been running against Obama. Why wouldn't he have picked a more seasoned Governor instead of one who has only been serving for 2 years? And has a few scandals in her past?

"Why wouldn't he have picked a more seasoned Governor instead of one who has only been serving for 2 years?"

Exactly. And from Alaska, to boot?

Nothing against Alaska but jeez... talk about 'out of touch'. I just don't think this will go over well with most folks here in the lower 48. What exactly would she bring to the table apart from her hard-right stance on abortion? Is THAT gonna be the hot issue this fall?

Rabbit,

I think she brings her gender to the table. Will it counter Obama's historical first?  We'll see.

Unless she tanks in the debates, I think she does no harm.

ps. She would not have been my pick but then neither would have McCain.

Well, if it's the gender thingy then this is purty weak. Sorry, but like I've said, McCain blew it. He looks like a real hypocrite with this choice.

Shoulda went for Romney. Oh well. Their loss, my gain. :)

Rabbit,

I like Romney but politically McCain will come out ahead as Palin charms America. 

McCain will come out ahead as Palin charms America.

Good luck on drawing all of those disgruntled Hillary voters over, Barn. Keep reminding them that the little-lady VP's job is to be a charmer, then refer to them as "pro-abortion". If the rest of your party is as tone deaf as you, this could be a blowout.

;0)

No offense, but I think all the broads will flock to this chick initially, because she cuts down trees, presses wild flowers, and wears high heels, suspenders, and a bra.  Plus, they'll be drawn to her Wednesday shopping sprees, and tea with buttered scones.  But once they hear from Oprah about how she hangs around in bars, and those rumors get around to all the hen parties about her "dear Papa", they'll scratch her eyes out.

I'm speaking metaphorically, of course.

Charm America? Please... she will 'charm' hard-right social conservatives and basement-dweller young men. She will NOT connect with most women. Period.

This is a very cynical choice and most THINKING voters will see right through it.

America's gain.

Amen. :)

She does harm to McCain's entire line of questioning Obama's experience, and or lack thereof. He has been harping since day one on Obama's lack of experience, and now he puts his VP choice as less experienced than Obama, much less experienced I might add. Before she was Gov, she was the mayor of a town of about 5000 people. She is one heart attack away from the White House, and McCain has been harping on experience, experience, experience. Obama could use ALL of the McCain experience sound bites (like McCain did with hillary's), and conflate them to mean that since McCain thinks that it is OK to have a VP pick who is less experienced than Obama, then by proxy, McCain must support Obama for President. See how the twisted logic works there?

She is going to get smoked in the debates. I am making that prediction now. You won't admit it that when she does get beat down by Biden, I am also making that prediction. She is NOT going to draw any liberal women from Hillary's supporters, only the most whiney ones might go over now, just because Palin is a woman, but I doubt many. Palin's views on everything are as diametrically opposed to Hillary's stances as anyone could possibly be. The people who were Hillary supporters supported Hillary because they honestly felt that she was the best candidate, and yes, I'm sure some supported her because she was a woman, but she was also a woman who shared their views on things. Palin, is not such a woman. I would be surprised if McCain could pull say, 5% of Hillary supporters with his choice of Palin, I'd be VERY surprised. She's "pro-life", 100% rating by the NRA, doesn't believe in birth control, she's a creationist, and many other things that Hillary supporters don't believe in, or agree with her. Also, as others have mentioned, she's under investigation for ethics violation and has been in office less than 2 years, but in the same breath, they heap accolades on here for being "tough on ethics". This is going to be fun to watch McCain get crushed. I can't wait for the election. This is like Christmas coming very early this year. Thanks John!

Mags,

Print out your thoughts and lets discuss on Nov. 5th. :-)

Don't worry, I'll remember.

I'll tell you what they are not grudging about, his race. This is a largely conservative area and so maybe folks are relaxed about being vile racists in public. Example, at my night job the other day, we were discussing the Joe for VP announcement. In walks one of the most successful real estate hacks in town, and tells the "joke" that Stallone would be the pick so the ticket could be Sambo and Rambo. This was told in public, out loud with the expectation of getting a good laugh. I guess the jokester did not know that one of the listeners has 2 mixed Negro and caucasian grand children. Talk about your awkward silences, broken by the sound of jaws hitting the OSHA approved floor mats.

It was mostly for show but it will probably work with some independents.  I think he had to do something because the Dems were very respectful of McCain the man throughout their convention and I doubt the Reps are going to treat Obama in the same manner at theirs.

I LOVE IT JOHN MCCAIN JUST SHOWED HE WILL DO ANYTHING TOO WIN THE WHITEHOUSE. DO ANYTHING TOO GET THOSE HILLARY SUPPORTERS AND HE JUST DID. AND I LOVE ALL THE MEDIA  FALLING ALL OVER THIS WOMEN BUT LET THAT HAVE BEEN OBAMA WHO PICK THIS WOMEN THOSE SAME PEOPLE WOULD  BE ATTACKING SAYING HOW COULD OBAMA PICK SOMEONE WHO WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. MY GOD AND LORD HELP FOX NEWS AND THE RNC THEY WOULD BE ALL OVER OBAMA.

You must be on drugs.  This woman is totally opposite of what Hillary stands for.  Hillary supporters weren't just supporting her because she was a female.  Plus, how will the Far Right enjoy having a woman as 2nd in Command?  McCain doesn't even support equal pay for equal work.  I'm sure this will go over like a lead balloon.  I equate this to Mondale selecting Ferraro.  Obama should steam-roll now.

Well, I sort of agree with you, and sort of don't. I think that there were pro Hillary supporters who wanted her to win because she was a woman, but, and this is a big but here, they also shared her views on things. Palin is not even close, as you said.

I just don't get it, RIGHTWINGER.  NeonDesert gets banned for doing this exact same thing.  How do you manage to pull it off time after time without landing in the MMfA doghouse?

I flagged neondesert, and insisted on his banishment. He was outrageous.

Awww.  I kind of liked him.  Very knowledgable, and quite attractive.  He wasn't afraid to discuss topics not traditionally masculine, like quilting.  And he often spelled correctly.

True, it was probably time for him to go, but I'll miss him.

Mouth Piece for Council on Foreign Relations Tom Brokaw really did his job in the last few days , claiming the ONLY way to describe Obama's Speech , a " Rock Star event " and later fitting for the " Supremes " . Remember Britney and Paris comparison . 

This guy is a FRAUD and should be called out for moderating the Council on Foreign Relations Meeting in Denver .  

Google Richard Haass's (CFR President ) comments on countries needing to "CEDE sovereignty" , for economic reason , for fighting Global Warming and every opportunistic idea they can for Globalists to steal more power and reduce what little control over our government .  This cabal and their minions need to be exposed , as the haters of democracy around the world .